T-P in Beijing: Lee won't wait to get out of gate in the 200

BEIJING -- Chagrined by her performance in the 100-meter final, Muna Lee gets a chance at redemption today.

The former LSU standout ran a personal-best time of 22.29 seconds in the semifinals of the 200-meter dash to earn a spot in the Olympic final at the track and field competition at National Stadium.

Lee's time was the third fastest of the two semifinal races and gave her a second shot at a medal.

Three days ago, her medal hopes were dashed when she hesitated in the starter's block of the 100 after teammate Torri Edwards appeared to false-start in the adjacent lane. Lee finished fifth.

"The girls who didn't run the 100 are fresher, but it doesn't matter," Lee said. "A lot more girls are running (times of) 21 and 22 seconds. It's not just (American teammate) Allyson (Felix) or (Jamaican) Veronica (Campbell-Brown). It's going to be a good race."

The Americans will seek revenge against the Jamaicans, who swept the medals in the 100 on Sunday night. Campbell-Brown, Kerron Stewart and Sherone Simpson will lead the powerful Jamaican contingent. Lee and Felix will be joined by Marshevet Hooker.

"Everybody's going to bring their 'A' game," Hooker said.

BRYANT, TEAM USA ROLLS: Kobe Bryant's 25 points led five Americans in double figures as the U.S. men's basketball team rolled past Australia 116-85 in the quarterfinals of the medal round.

Hornets guard Chris Paul had his worst offensive game of the Olympics, scoring two points but grabbing seven rebounds and making three assists.

The United States advanced to Friday's semifinal, where it will play Argentina, an 80-78 winner against Greece.

GOOD KNIGHT FOR AMERICANS: Brandon Knight was much better for the U.S. baseball team in his second start than he was in his first.

Knight, a member of the Zephyrs since late May, allowed two runs on five hits in 6¤1/3 innings of a 4-2 victory against Chinese Taipei late Tuesday night. He allowed one home run and struck out five to record his first victory of the tournament.

"The first time through the order, I was able to make some good pitches and get some swings and misses," Knight said. "But they made the adjustment. They started taking some good pitches and taking some good swings on others. I was impressed, but I also wasn't surprised."

It was Knight's first start since a no-decision in the team's opening-game loss to South Korea.

Knight was dominant early. He struck out five of the first seven batters he faced. Although he did not record a strikeout after the second inning, he was able to limit Chinese Taipei to two runs.

"(Chinese Taipei) was what we expected, and I was just very impressed," Knight said. "I think it is something that I have been through, having played in Asia. They really do a good job of making adjustments. Their scouting is second to none, and they really pay attention to what is going on."

Team USA defeated Japan 4-2 on Wednesday to finish preliminary-round play at 5-2.

"We didn't want to back in (to the medal round). It was a tough ballgame," U.S. Manager Davey Johnson said. "Taipei threw a pitcher that gave us a lot of trouble. Thanks to the bottom of my lineup and good pitching by Brandon Knight, we managed to pull out a win. So, now the fun starts."

SAILING WOES CONTINUE: It continued to be a disappointing Olympics for locals John Lovell and John Dane.

Lovell, a New Orleans resident and native, and teammate Charlie Ogletree finished last in the 15-boat fleet during the 10-race Tornado regatta. In three races Wednesday, they finished 15th, 14th and 15th.

Dane, a New Orleans native who lives in Gulfport, Miss., and his son-in-law, Austin Sperry, didn't fare much better in the Star division. The Dane-Sperry team finished 11th out of 16 boats during the 10-race competition. The team actually led the competition after three races. They finished on a good note with a fourth-place finish in race 10.

ILL WRESTLER PULLS OUT: Daniel Cormier's Olympic dream died this morning when the Lafayette wrestler withdrew from the Olympic Games competition at 96 kg. (211.5 pounds) because of health concerns.

Cormier, the U.S. team captain, became dehydrated and received treatment from U.S. Olympic Committee medical staff at the Poly Clinic in the Athletes Village and at a local hospital, according to a release by the USOC.

Cormier apparently was healthy when he weighed in for the competition a day earlier at 3:15 p.m. and received his draw for the competition.

USOC officials said Cormier had rehydrated by this morning. The 29-year-old Oklahoma State product is expected to have a complete recovery.

For Cormier, the withdrawal eliminated his chance redeem a fourth-place finish at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

According to international rules, there can be no replacement after weigh-in is held, so there will be no U.S. entry at the weight class.

ONE AND DONE: Breaux Greer's attempt to qualify for the finals of the men's javelin throw ended after one toss this morning.

The Monroe native made a sub-par toss of 73.68 meters, well below the standard of 82.50 needed for the final, and dropped out of the competition, skipping his final two attempts and ending his third Olympic appearance on a disappointing note.

Greer, an eight-time American champion and the American record holder, was trying to make a comeback from an injury to his right (throwing) shoulder that limited him to a handful of competitive throws this season.

He failed to qualify at the U.S. trials weeks earlier in Eugene, Ore., when his shoulder limited him to a pair of poor throws, but he was added to the U.S. team because only two Americans had recorded Olympic qualifying throws.

The latest injury, a fractured bone in his right hand, adds to Greer's legacy as one of the most talented and injury-plagued throwers in recent U.S. track history. Greer finished 12th at the 2004 Athens Olympics after he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the final.

He dislocated his right shoulder two years after finishing 12th in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and the follow-up operation after the 2004 Athens Olympics went wrong and left him with a dislocation every time he tried to throw. He required two more surgeries in 2005 to repair the damage and re-construct the shoulder, then underwent arthroscopic surgery a year later to repair a torn ligament in his left knee.

Jeff Duncan can be reached at jduncan@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3404.